Lifeboat



W. R. BITTON LIFE BOAT Filed June 29,' 1944 A wok/v5 Y5 Patented Aug. 14, 1945 LIFEBOAT-A Wellington Roy Bitton, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 3 Claims. 9-4) This invention relates to an improved life boat, and the objects of the invention are to provide a boat which will automatically right itself in a rough sea and may be capable of travelling on or below the surface. In its construction the invention includes a cylindrical hull having a cradle pivotally supported therein, a. keel, conical end sections containing tubes, the forward tube having space for a torpedo tube and the aft to be provided with a space through which the propelling and. steering mechanism may extend, all as hereinafter more fully set forth in the accompanying specification and drawing.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the life boat,

Figure 2 is a cross section,

Figure '3 is an enlarged section through the forward end of the boat, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged section through the after end thereof.

Referring to the drawing, ||J indicates a cylindrical hull having conical forward and after ends I and I2. The hull I0 is formed by spaced inner and outer walls l3 and 4 separated by spacers I5 and longitudinal bulkheads |5A forming therebetween a plurality ofindependent air chambers I6. Water-tight bulkheads I! and |8 separate the interior of the hull from the ends H and I2.

A keel 20 is located at the bottom of the hull l0, and a tower 2| having a hatch 22 is provided at the top thereof. If desired, one or more gun turrets 23 and/or vanes 24 may be provided, the latter being used for regulating the depth at which the boat is to travel in the water.

A cradle 25 is mounted in the lower part of the hull and extends the full length thereof. This cradle has wheels 26 which ride on rails 21 extending around the inside wall |3 transversely of the hull. This cradle is weighted so that it remains substantially stationary in relation to any rolling of the boat. Steps 28 are mounted on the cradle beneath the tower 2|, the remainder of the interior fittings being omitted for the sake of clarity.

A tube 30 extends through the bulkhead out wardly toward the apex of the forward end H. A torpedo tube 3|, having the usual doors 32 and 33, may extend through the tube 30, and any other necessary pipes may extend through the latter, such as a pipe 34 extending from the bilge pump (not shown). The vacant space within the tube 30 is filled with suitable material or covered at its opposite ends.

Another tube 35 extends through the bulkhead l8 and opens outwardly at the apex of the after end l2. A tube 36 is rotatably mounted in bearings in the tube 35 and has a propeller 31 on its outer end and a gear 38 on its inner end. This gear is connected in any suitable manner such as chain 38A to an engine 40 located on the cradle 25. Another tube 4| extends through the tube 36 and is secured at its inner end to the bracket 4|A mounted on the cradle. A bracket 42 is carried by the outer end of the tube 4| and a rudder 43 is pivoted therein. A shaft 44 extending through the tube 4| has a bevel gear 45 on its outer end meshing with a corresponding bevel gear 46 mounted on the rudder at its pivot edge. The opposite end of the shaft 44 is connected to suitable steering wheel 41.

While this boat may be used for any purpose, it is primarily designed as a life boat which may be positioned on the deck of a larger boat. After the crew has entered the life boat, it is launched into the water in any desired manner, preferably bow first. No matter how rough the sea, the boat instantly rights itself and may travel on or below the surface of the water. The torpedo tube and any guns are provided for protection against attack. In times of peace, armament would be unnecessary. If thehull is punctured anywhere, its buoyancy is not destroyed owing to the independent air chambers Hi.

In this boat, the crew is protected from the elements and it cannot capsize, thus making it a great improvement over the open boats and rafts now used for this purpose.

Various modifications may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims, and, therefore, the

exact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense, and it is desired that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are disclosed in the prior art or are set forth in the accompanying claims.

WhatI claim as my invention is:

1. A boat of the character described, comprising a cylindrical hull having conical forward and aft ends, a plurality of air chambers formed around the interior of the hull, a keel on the bottom oithe hull, a cradle mounted on the lower part of the hull extending longitudinally thereof and pivotally mounted in position, a tube extending through the forward end of the hull adapted to contain a torpedo tube, a tube extending through the aft end of the hull, a rotatable tube extending through the said last mentioned tube, a propeller thereon, driving means connected to the said rotatable tube, a steering shaft extendtube, driving means inside the cradle connected 1 with the rotatable tube to rotate the pr0pel1er,=a i

non-rotatable tube extending through the rotatable tube, rudder means mounted on the outer end of said non-rotatable tube, a steering shaft extending through the last mentioned non-rotatable tube, and steering mechanism connected therewith.

3. A boat as claimed in claim 2, in which the steering mechanism comprises means inside the cradle operableindependBIltly of the pivotal position of the cradle with respect to the hull to rotate the steering shaft in either direction to operate the rudder means.

WELLINGTON ROY BITTON. 

